Paul Watson: 'Power of one' can end the killing of the whales

One person can make a difference. Because of Dian Fossey the mountain gorillas of Rwanda were saved. Because of Birute Galdikas, the orangutans of Indonesian have been protected. Because of David Wingate the Bermuda storm petrel is not extinct.

Last week, Bruce Foerster, demonstrated this principle when Belize surprised everyone by voting against all five Japanese motions at the International Whaling Commission meeting in St Kitts & Nevis.

Everyone had assumed that Belize was a bought and paid for nation recruited by Japan. But Belize was the first nation to realise that doing the bidding of Japan could have grave economic consequences.

Belize Hotel owner and Sea Shepherd Conservation Society member Bruce Foerster certainly made Belize aware of the consequences. In an email dated May 21st, 2006 [reproduced below] Bruce gave Belize an ultimatum.

It looks like Bruce's protest, along with other concerns expressed from the tourism sector in Belize, reached the government's ears.

Belize did no favours for Japan and the Belize vote was 5 for 5 for the whales.

We think that Bruce contributed towards this decision and we urge all people who care about whales in the Caribbean and Pacific island nations that supported Japan to request that their governments reconsider when the IWC meets again next year in Anchorage, Alaska.

It is time for honour to be restored and for the people to speak out in defence of the whales that their politicians sold out. In every Caribbean island nation polled, the majority of people are against whaling.

We know that St Lucian and Antiguan politicians are being wined and dined and given expensive trips to Japan. We know that Japan is dumping cheap cars on the islands and we know that the police of St Kitts have become an extension of the Ministry of Japanese Security.

But the people have the final say and if the whale-loving and environmentally concerned people of the islands speak out, these politicians can be tossed out and the reputation of the nations can be restored.

Bruce Foerster has set a good example. He used his position as a person who provides jobs in the tourism industry to make it clear to the government of Belize that supporting Japan's pro-whale killing stance is unacceptable.

Apparently they listened.


Bruce's email to the government of Belize:

Gentlemen,

I understand that Belize will be attending the International Whaling Commission meeting next month and intends to vote on the side of Japan to scrap the moratorium on whaling? Please let me know if this is indeed true as I vehemently object to such a decision.

Commercial whaling has reduced the worlds whale population to only about 1 per cent of it's pre-whaling numbers and I and millions of people like me do not agree that whaling of any kind (outside of aboriginal whaling on a tiny scale) should be permitted or ever tolerated.

As a business owner here in Belize I am ashamed that you would betray the world's few remaining whales by helping authorise their slaughter and should you indeed pursue this I will immediately sell my large resort and take all of my capital out of the country, compromising the 100 full time positions which this resort provides and the millions of dollars we invest annually into the local economy. I simply cannot tolerate such a destructive move on your part and will not live nor invest in a country which pretends to care for the environment but in reality cares only for the dirty money that they can earn by voting to destroy the relatively few whales that these butchers have not already painfully and mercilessly slaughtered.

You are risking a huge economic backlash and a tourism boycott should you make the mistake of voting for the destruction of these rare and intelligent mammals!

I await your response with great anticipation,

Sincerely,

Bruce Foerster
Managing Director, Jaguar Reef Lodge
President, Jungle-Sea Ventures Ltd.


* Paul Watson is founder and president of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.